Tangled In Strings

Chapter 49 : strings in blood

The sky above the forest turned red without warning.

The Rift screamed open — not like before. This time it bled. The shadows poured out like a wound in time itself. And from it walked the one thing they thought they had banished forever:

The Marquess.

Draped in black silk and corruption, her power twisted the trees into agonized shapes. Her eyes burned like shattered stars, and her voice echoed like a blade through bone.

“Did you really think sealing me was the end, Moonjumper?” she hissed. “You only delayed the inevitable.”

Moonjumper stood between her and the path to their home, mask gone, sleeves rolled back, golden magic glowing along his arms.

“I hoped you'd never come back. But I’m not the boy you nearly broke. Not anymore.”

But she smiled.

“Then let’s test that, shall we?”

---

✦ The Fight

It happened fast — a flash of sick green fire, blades made of shadow-glass, spell runes burning into the air.

Snatcher had sensed the shift in the forest too late. By the time he blinked into the clearing, the world was already on fire.

He saw Moonjumper — face bloodied, breathing shallow, body torn open with spectral wounds.

And standing over him…

The Marquess, poised to end it.

“NO.”

The scream tore through realms. Time warped. Snatcher’s shadow flared into monstrous wings, eyes burning with unholy rage.

“You don’t get to touch him. You don’t get to breathe in his space.”

She turned, unfazed.

“Still so emotional, Snatcher. So weak.”

But she had forgotten something vital.

Snatcher's love was a curse, a rage, a promise.

And when he thought he had lost Moonjumper — truly lost him — something inside him snapped.

“You broke him once. You won’t get the chance again.”

His body tore apart into pure black flame. Screaming spirits flooded the air. Every contract he had ever made snarled awake in a storm of debt and fury.

Snatcher lost control.

He didn’t hold back this time.

---

✦ Aftermath

The Marquess didn’t scream.
She begged.

And then she was gone — sealed with chains of spectral iron, thrown into the Rift as it snapped shut behind her with a thunderclap of finality.

The forest quieted.

The fires died.

Snatcher collapsed at Moonjumper’s side, hands shaking.

“Please — please — wake up. Moon, please.”

No response.

“Don’t do this to me. Don’t leave. Not after everything — we have a life — a daughter — I need you.”

And then, weakly, a whisper:

“That… was dramatic,” Moonjumper croaked.

Snatcher choked on a laugh, half-sob.

“You asshole. I thought you were dead!”

Moonjumper opened one glowing eye, dazed and bloody.

“You screamed louder than Starlight did when she saw her first ghost spider.”

“I was prepared to burn the planet, Jumper!”

“You nearly did.”

Snatcher didn’t speak again. He just leaned down and pressed their foreheads together, holding him close like he was afraid he’d vanish again.

---

✦ Epilogue Scene: Days Later

Moonjumper was recovering in their bed, spectral bandages and healing charms covering most of him. Starlight had come home temporarily, threatening every medic in the Rift with lawsuits if they didn't help her father.

Snatcher hadn't left his side.

“You scared me,” he whispered one night.

“I scared me too,” Moonjumper said with a weak smile.

“I’m never letting you fight alone again.”

Moonjumper took his hand, soft and warm.

“Then I guess you’re stuck with me… forever.”

Snatcher kissed him, long and quiet.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”